Friday, September 28, 2018

Dear Parents,

Happy Fall Break! This ends the first quarter of our calendar year. Enjoy this week together with your family - we look forward to seeing you again on Monday 8th October.

Thank you to all the parents who attended our Family Math Mornings this week. It was so great having you in our classrooms, interacting with your children, and helping with the math lesson. We hope you took away new understandings and information about our math programme too. Thank you for all the great feedback you left us, we will be considering as we plan ahead for next years’ math mornings.

 

 

You can access more photos from the Family Math Mornings here (password: raptors18)

·     The Grade 5 Family Math Morning will take place on Tuesday 9th October at 8:45 am, in the BBT.

·    The EY5 Family Math Morning will take place on Wednesday 21st November at 8:45 am, in the BBT.

 More information about AISC Math Curriculum & Home Learning

At AISC, we follow the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.  Each year has defined curricular goals, with both conceptual understandings and computational fluencies. You can access a detailed explanation of the goals for your child’s grade level in the folder linked below.  Note that each document includes the Major Clusters, which is the focus of instruction, as well as Supporting Clusters, which support the major topics, and Additional Clusters, which might also be explored. You’ll also see clear Required Fluencies for the grade level; note that these are end of year goals. Go to this folder to find the grade-level curriculum documents.

In addition, we’d like to support parents to make the best choices for supplementary home learning.  Here is our link to AISC Math Home Learning resources to support your child’s fluency development.  Included are digital resources, like apps and web-based games, as well as “old-school” math games like dice, dominoes, and card games. What will your family try over Fall Break?

CWW trip to Pondicherry

5EF and 5VL returned today from their CWW trip. Mr Dave and the other chaperones spoke of the maturity and growing confidence from this group of learners also. In particular, this group of 5th graders showed great compassion and creativity through their engagement of all the activities offered on the trip.

India Month Information

October is our “Celebrate India” month. We have many exciting events and celebrations planned for our students that will help them explore the different facets of India and its incredibility!

India Month Opening Assemblies

Parents are welcome to attend the Student Performance Assemblies on these dates and times:

• Grades 3-5 - Thursday, October 11th at 2:30 p.m  
• EY5 - Grade 2 - Friday October 12th at 2:30 p.m   

Both assemblies will be in the FAC theatre. Our students will perform different traditional and contemporary styles of Indian dancing and singing. We look forward to seeing you at the assemblies.

Students are encouraged to wear Indian clothes (optional) on the day of their performance. If you wish to purchase Indian traditional clothes, here is a list of shops:

1. Nalli (T.Nagar or other branches)
2. Sundari Silks (T.Nagar)
3. RMKV (In Phoenix Mall)
4. Pothys (T.Nagar)
5. BIBA (In Express Avenue Mall or Phoenix Mall)

Elementary Growth Story Conferences - Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 October

After the October break, we have our first formal Growth Story Conferences. Please make sure you have signed up via Edmodo.

These are a valuable opportunity for you to learn more about the growth your child has made in their learning this academic year, as well as hear about learning goals they and their teacher are aiming towards. The main focus will be on sharing assessment and learning data to show progress your child is making in the four core academic areas taught in the homeroom - math, reading, writing and either social studies or science, depending on unit currently being taught.

Growth Story Conference Dates:

Monday, October 15th from 3:40 pm - 5:20 pm (after a school day)
Tuesday, October 16th from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm (no school/classes on this day for students)

These will be 20 minutes in length, with one family in the room at a time. Look to your child’s Edmodo page for sign-ups starting next week. All families need to make an appointment for these conferences.  

Early Years to Grade 2: Parent/Teacher conference (no students present)

• Teachers lead the conference
• Sharing of learning samples and data points

 Grade 3 - 5:  Student/Parent/Teachers (students attend)

• Child will co-lead the conference together with the teacher
• Sharing of learning samples and data point

 Music, Art, PE, World Language and Indian Studies teachers will be available to speak to on a drop in basis, and parents are encouraged to schedule this in advance via email.  

Written Progress Report Card

At the above conferences, a short one-page report card will be prepared for parents to take home. As the conference will focus on all core academic areas, the report card will communicate personal, social and emotional learning and growth, as well as show progress measured against learning habits. Our full academic written report cards with all subject areas will be sent home in December, and again in May.

Community Directory & Yearbook Photos

The Community Directory has been sent home with your youngest child today. If you placed an order for Yearbook photos, these too will be arriving home today. Please look out in your child’s bag for these.

October Lunch Menu & Order Links  

To order a school lunch for your child, please use this Payonline link.  

Elementary Lunch Menus: (Grades EY- 3 Pre-order) and (Grades 4 & 5 - No Preorder)

Swimming Information from the Aquatics Director

We are nearing the end of a successful first season of Swimming ASA.  In order for us to do our best to provide opportunities that meet students, we would like to gather information from you. (Pre-registration form for swimming). This will help us organize the groups of Learn to Swim 1-2-3 and the Raptors swim groups.

Season 1 dates to remember:

Season 1 showcase for Levels 1-2-3 (Saturday classes only): Saturday, October 20th

Season 1 showcase for Levels 1-2-3 (Tuesday classes only): Tuesday, October 30th

Season 1 showcase for Levels 1-2-3 (Thursday classes only): Thursday, November 1st

Season 1 ends on Friday, November 2nd.

Registration information:

The form will open on Friday, September 28th and will close on Tuesday, October 9th (4:30 pm)

Payments can be pay through the school pay online portal from Nov -26 - Dec 3, 2018

Season 2 will start on Monday, November 12th, 2018 and will end on Friday, February 2019.

For more information please visit our Swimming website and check the schedule.

Meet AISC - Ula Konczweska

 

Ula was born in Gorzow Wielkopolski (how do you pronounce that?), a medium-sized city in Poland. She left her hometown at the age of 18 and moved to the United States to pursue college education, where she received a few degrees in various subjects including Political Science and Instructional Technology, before falling in love with teaching and getting a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. Since then Ula has lived and taught in 5 countries. Somebody close to her once told her to "Always take the scenic route in life, because you never know how all your experiences might come together at some point." Ula loves learning from my students who see the world clearly and speak with truth and honesty.  If she had a magic power she would I like to beam kindness into people's hearts. Since the age of 6 Ula has been a part of various performing dance groups, traveling around the world and performing in different styles including jazz, modern, and traditional folk dance. The music and dance closest to her heart comes from the Balkan region. If you ever want to learn how to properly dance at a Greek wedding, let Ula know! If she could she would also create her own reality TV show called Dance Around the World-  travel to every country in the world and learn traditional dances of the people.

Enjoy your Fall break!

Keryn Dowling, Dave Allen & Calley Connelly

Friday, September 21, 2018

Dear Parents,

This week I had the privilege of joining 5BT and 5JD on their annual Pondicherry Classroom Without Walls (CWW) trip. The children were amazing, showing resilience and confidence to push themselves outside of their comfort zone in being away from home for four days. Every day was something new - new food, a new animal to engage with, a new friend to make and a new experience to have. Parents, you should feel very proud of these amazing 5th graders! Next week 5EF and 5VL be out and we can’t wait to hear all about their experience too.

Meet AISC - Jayasri Santosh - Early Years Teacher

Jayasri holds a Bachelor’s degree in science and chose to get trained in 'Early Childhood Learning' with the AMI - Association Montessori Internationale - headquartered in the Netherlands. This was a great move for Jayasri as she was awarded a globally valid primary diploma to teach Early childhood, which she has been doing over the last 24 years. Prior to joining the AISC, Jayasri was teaching at the Montessori Children's Center in Fremont, California. She is also a trained and certified Yoga Teacher, having attended an intensive training program at the Shivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, The Himalayas. Jayasri is immensely proud of having played a role in the developmental process and growth of numerous little learners over the last two decades. If she could trade lives with anyone - it would be millenial or a gen z whom she admires when it comes to being so focused, articulate and savvy particularly in technology!

India Month Information

October is our “Celebrate India” month. We have many exciting events and celebrations planned for our students that will help them explore the different facets of India and its incredibility!

India Month Opening Assemblies

Parents are welcome to attend the Student Performance Assemblies on these dates and times:

·         Grades 3-5 - Thursday, October 11th at 2:30 p.m  

·         EY5 - Grade 2 – Friday, October 12th at 2:30 p.m   

Both assemblies will be in the FAC theatre. Our students will perform different traditional and contemporary styles of Indian dancing and singing. We look forward to seeing you at the assemblies.

Students are encouraged to wear Indian clothes (optional) on the day of their performance. If you wish to purchase Indian traditional clothes, here is a list of shops:

1.      Nalli (T.Nagar or other branches)

2.      Sundari Silks (T.Nagar)

3.      RMKV (In Phoenix Mall)

4.      Pothys (T.Nagar)

5.      BIBA (In Express Avenue Mall or Phoenix Mall)

Elementary Growth Story Conferences - Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 October

After the October break, we have our first formal Growth Story Conferences. These are a valuable opportunity for you to learn more about the growth your child has made in their learning this academic year, as well as hear about learning goals they and their teacher are aiming towards. The main focus will be on sharing assessment and learning data to show progress your child is making in the four core academic areas taught in the homeroom - math, reading, writing and either social studies or science, depending on unit currently being taught.

Growth Story Conference Dates:

Monday, October 15th from 3:40 pm - 5:20 pm (after a school day)
Tuesday, October 16th from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm (no school/classes on this day for students). 

These will be 20 minutes in length, with one family in the room at a time. Look to your child’s Edmodo page for sign-ups starting next week. All families need to make an appointment for these conferences.  

Early Years to Grade 2: Parent/Teacher conference (no students present)

• Teachers lead the conference
• Sharing of learning samples and data points

Grade 3 - 5:  Student/Parent/Teachers (students attend)

• Child will co-lead the conference together with the teacher
• Sharing of learning samples and data point

Music, Art, PE, World Language and Indian Studies teachers will be available to speak to on a drop in basis, and parents are encouraged to schedule this in advance via email.  

Community Directory

The Community Directory will be distributed to Elementary students on Friday 28th September through the classroom of your youngest child.

Yearbook Photos

If you placed an order for Yearbook photos, your child will bring it home on Friday 28th September.

October Lunch Menu & Order Links  

To order a school lunch for your child, please use this Payonline link.  

Elementary Lunch Menus: (Grades EY- 3 Pre-order) and (Grades 4 & 5 - No Preorder)

Have a wonderful weekend,

Keryn Dowling, Dave Allen & Calley Connelly

Friday, September 14, 2018

Friday, September 14, 2018 

Dear Parents,

A fun filled spirit week here at AISC with students arriving on Monday in their pyjamas, on Tuesday with all kinds of crazy outfits! Wednesday had us seeing double and triple, and on Thursday we had great fun seeing all the characters come to life. Today we celebrated UN International Peace Day with our Parade of Nations.

Click here to see all the photos from our fun spirit week.  Password is raptors18

 

 

Congratulations to our Grade 5 speakers Adrien, Keshav, Mathurin,  Oona, Summer, Wonyoung and Yo who presented ‘Peace begins with you’ so beautifully.  Thank you Grade 5 students.

 

Meet AISC - Seema Sandir, Grade 1 EAL Teacher

 

Seema Sandhir has taught at AISC for close to 15 years as a first grade EAL teacher and she loves her job. She once took a position as a Curriculum Designer, but she missed being around students so much, she returned to the classroom the very next year. As she explains, “When I work with my students, I learn how each one is special and unique. Watching them grow in many different ways gives me immense joy”!

Seema and her family spent twenty years living in the United States prior to returning to India once more. Outside of school, Seema loves music, reading, traveling, zentangling, and bullet journaling. She has no interest in starring on a reality TV show, because she prefers to stay out of the limelight; however, if she had to be in a show, it would be called, 'Where in the world is Seema Sandhir?'!

MAP Testing for Grade 2, 3 and 4 - September 17 - 21

Next week students from Grades 2, 3 and 4 will take the take the MAP assessment in Reading, Math, Language and Science. This is a computerized adaptive test. As a student answers questions, the test responds to the student, adjusting up or down in difficulty. There is no preparation required for MAP testing. Results from the MAP tests are used by teachers make instructional decisions for increased student growth and achievement. Please remind your child to charge their laptop or tablet each night. We recommend that students have adequate sleep and a good breakfast before they come to school for the MAP Test. Make up tests are available for students who miss tests due to absence.

Early Release Wednesday 19th September

Wednesday 19 September is our next early release day. Please remember that school finishes at 2:00 pm and children need to be off campus by 2:30 p.m. We appreciate you being prompt with this pick up.

International Day - Tomorrow; Saturday 15 September 11:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m

 

Early Years 5 - Grade 2 Learning Celebration in Madras Hall 2:30pm  

Next Friday 21st is our first Elementary Learning Celebration for children in the EY5 to Grade 2. Join us to celebrate students sharing their learning from the beginning of the school year. Parents are encouraged to join us in Madras Hall. Parents can be seated from 2:30pm, children will arrive close to 2:40pm and we will begin at 2:45pm.  

For safety purposes, strollers need to be parked and left outside. Babies and toddlers must be seated on parents laps/knees for the duration of the learning celebration. If they need a break, please take them outside so our students have a respectful audience to perform to.

Thank you for understanding.

Family Math Mornings

Coming up the week after next we have our Family Math Mornings. This is for parents to come in and learn more about our math programme and participate in hands-on activities with their children. This will begin each morning on the dates listed below at 8:45 a.m. After an orientation session, parents will travel to spend time in their child's’ class observing a math lesson, and then return to Madras Hall for an observation debrief.
We look forward to welcoming all parents on these dates!

• Grade 1:  Monday Sept 24  Madras Hall 8:45 am
• Grade 2:  Tuesday Sept 25  Madras Hall 8:45 am
• Grade 3:  Wednesday Sept 26  Madras Hall 8:45 am
• Grade 4:  Thursday Sept 26  Madras Hall 8:45 am
• Grade 5:  Wednesday Oct 10    BBT 8:45 am
• EY5:  Wednesday Nov 21 Madras Hall 8:45 am [Note different date than community calendar]

Director of Technologies & Innovation Coffee - Technology and Elementary Age Children.

Thursday, September 20th @ 8:45 a.m. - 9.45 a.m in BBT

The Elementary School Counselling team and the Tech team will be holding a generative discussion about how technology can be used to enhance the learning and development of our younger learners, and where the challenges may arise as they grow up in a technology enhanced world. Please join us for this conversation in the BBT.

Have a nice weekend,

Keryn Dowling, Dave Allen & Calley Connelly

Friday, September 7, 2018

Dear Parents,

Another great week complete in the Elementary school, with a lot of weekend activities happening at AISC too.  Thank you to all of you who joined us this afternoon for the Futures Planning Summit. It was a great experience re-imagining the future of school together.

5th Grade Robotics Competition

Today and yesterday our 5th graders competed in a Robotics Competition hosted in our Design Lab. Students assembled and then raced robots in a fun setting whilst learning within the field of robotics educations including engineering and coding.

   

Sharing Compliments or Resolving Problems & Concerns
As stated in our handbook, sharing compliments, resolving problems or concerns at school is always most effectively done when they are brought to the immediate attention of the appropriate faculty member or administrator.

At AISC, we ask students and parents to use the following procedure to resolve difficulties or concerns.

• Discuss the matter first with the classroom teacher if it relates to grades, curriculum, homework, class behavior, etc.
• If the matter cannot be resolved with the teacher, then discuss it with the Counselor
• If you still require follow up, please then discuss this with the Associate Principal or Principal, as appropriate.

If the matter cannot be resolved with the Principal or Counselor, then discuss it with the Head of School.

Spirit Week next week! Please help your children to dress to enhance school spirit!

·  Monday  10 - Pajama Day

·  Tuesday 11 - Crazy Day

·  Wednesday 12 - Multiples Day

·  Thursday 13 - Book Character Day

·  Friday   14 - UN Day

 

 

Elementary Classroom Without Walls Program

As part of our Elementary School curriculum, we believe it is important for students to be given the opportunity to experience learning in the classroom as well as outside the classroom. Therefore, our students have multiple opportunities to study in a classroom without walls; on field trips around Chennai, in Service Learning, a school sleepover for students in Grade 4, and a three night overnight stay for 5th Graders in Pondicherry.

5th Grade Classroom Without Walls provides students with a unique cultural, personal, interpersonal and environmental experience that they would not normally experience within the regular classroom walls. Students learn, reflect, and grow as individuals. The aim of CWW is to:

• Develop greater self-management, independence, social skills and classroom/grade level relationships
• Enhance cultural sensitivity and provide authentic, direct exposure to India in order to  nurture a better understanding and appreciation of Indian culture.
• Foster a greater sense of both community and service by developing new connections as well as strengthen existing ones.
• Increase respect for the environment, other individuals and different cultures.
• To challenge students physically and mentally.
• To prepare students for week long Week Without Walls programs in Middle School.
• Take learning out of the school and into the real world.

It is an expectation that all 5th Grade students participate in this program. The school covers the cost of the overnight Classroom Without Walls trips.

2018 - 19 Dates

• Dates for the 4th Grade School Sleepover - Friday, 8 February 2019 (FYI)
• Dates for the 5th Grade Pondicherry trip

·         2 classes Tuesday 18 - Friday 21 September, 2018

·         2 classes Tuesday 25 - Friday 28  September, 2018

Visitor Attendance at Assemblies
Parents are welcome to attend any assembly or learning celebration marked on the Community Calendar. We encourage parents to attend assemblies to provide the children with an audience, and to allow them to see some of the special projects in which the children have been engaged. In order to ensure a pleasurable experience, please note:

•Parents and family members should sit in the area(s) designated for them. Please do not sit with the students, as space limitations will not allow for this arrangement.

• It is very important during the performance that all students and parents have a clear view of the stage. Please be mindful of other members of the audience and remain seated so you do not block their view when taking pictures.

• The elementary students are learning about performing in front of an audience. With this in mind, please remember to turn off your mobile phones and to remain quiet during the performances.

• Babies and toddlers need to stay with their parents at all times. If they need a break, please take them out of the room that is being used for the performance.

 * Strollers or prams are not allowed in the FAC theatre and need to be left outside.

We look forward to performing for you during the school year and hope to see you all there!

MAP Testing (Repeat Announcement)

During the week of September 17th, Grades 2, 3, and 4 will take the take the MAP test. Students will be assessed in Reading, Math, Language and Science. This is a computerized adaptive test. As a student answers questions, the test responds to the student, adjusting up or down in difficulty. There is no preparation required for MAP testing. Results from the MAP tests are used by teachers make instructional decisions for increased student growth and achievement. Please remind your child to charge their laptop or tablet each night. We recommend that students have adequate sleep and a good breakfast before they come to school for the MAP test. Make up tests are available for students who miss tests due to absence.

Have a great weekend!

Warmly,
Keryn Dowling, Dave Allen, and Calley Connelly